Long overdue

SWEET FELTED WOOL BIRD FROM CORINNE

So much in my life is "long overdue."  In fact, I started writing this in March of 2014 and then I put it aside, so even this blog post is long overdue. Partly it's because I procrastinate. Partly it's because once I get behind, it can be very difficult to catch up.  I think I've mentioned before that I was hit with a major depression several years back. During that time when I was so thoroughly depressed, I accomplished just about nothing. Things piled up. Things were left undone. I'm not sure I'll ever get out from under it all!  It gets easier, of course, the further I get from the depression.  But the thing is, even though I am WAY BETTER than I was, I'm not sure I'll ever feel ALL better.  And I have to guard against that little piece of me that still is raggedy, because it would be all too easy to succumb.

"My depression is the most faithful mistress I have known ... no wonder, then, that I return the love."  -Søren Kierkegaard

I want to "fix" a few of the long overdue things that were lost in the haze of the last several years.  Particularly, I'd like to say thank you to some friends in Web Land.  So many people have sent me little packages of love, I'd like to share some of those gifts here. So, today I am thanking: Cathy, Cecilia, Corinne, Debra, India, Jackie, Jody, Kim, and Mary.

AWESOME PINCUSHION FROM DEBRA GANGELHOFF AT MANITOBAGIFTS

KIMONO SCRAPS FROM JODY MELLENTHIN AND MARY STANLEY, also known as ART SPIRIT

SUCH A SWEET HEART FROM CECILIA GALLUCCIO OF BURNED FURNITURE

EXTRAORDINARY ECO-DYE FROM INDIA FLINT

A FELT BROOCH FROM JACKIE CARDY

MAGICAL BOOK  FROM KIM CAPAN, WHO BLOGS AT ILOVESAMPLERS

STUNNING STITCHWORK BY CATHY CULLIS

I dread the possibility that I am totally forgetting some wonderful, generous Webland friend. It seems inevitable that I probably am. Whoever you are, please forgive me. xo

THREE MESMERIZING WATERCOLORS FROM CATHY CULLIS

INCREDIBLE, WHIMSICAL, WONDERFUL BEADS, FROM CRISTINA, FORMERLY OF THE LONG-LOST BLOG "THREADING FORWRD" AND MORE RECENTLY OF THE DORMANT BLOG "REALM OF INSPIRTION" - CRISTINA, IF YOU’RE OUT THERE, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH!

Also in the long overdue category is the way I treat my health. Not sure why I don't seem to truly learn that it is best to get things looked at sooner, rather than later. Probably the most glaring example was when I had colon cancer, and in my soul of souls, I knew it, but I didn't go to the doctor until I was practically a dishrag, barely able to sit up straight and talk about my symptoms.  Would you like to know what kind of logic I was using, in allowing myself to put off going to the doctor? Here it is: Colon cancer is a very slow growing cancer, therefore I can wait. Seriously! I did not think: Colon cancer is a very slow growing cancer, therefore I can catch it early and get rid of it. Nooooo. Sometimes, I’m an idiot. But we can dwell on that some other time. For now, let’s enjoy the magical gift called LIFE. 

A BUMPER STICKER, FROM MARY STANLEY, PINNED TO MY STUDIO WALL.

Dear 65

Dear 65,

I'm sorry I've treated you with so little respect. You had so much to offer and I just took you for granted. I should have appreciated how lucky I was to have you. Instead, I belittled you and embarrassed you, just to make a joke. I called you my Medicare Year, as if that were all you meant to me. Now, as I approach 66, I realize what a gift you are. 

We have so little time now, but I’ll treat you well for the few hours we have left together. And, hey, I hope it’s not bad luck to say this a wee bit ahead of time, but thank you for carrying me all the way to 66. I truly appreciate it. I only hope 66 will be as kind to me as you were. At least as kind to me as you were for most of the year, mother fucker.

A-Tisket, A-Tasket

A Puddle in a Basket. That’s all. Nothing more. 

Unraveled and hanging by a thread

Yesterday was like a dream day. My friend Karen and I visited the Ridgefield Guild of Artists’ current shows and, after about two hours of eye-to-brain awesomeness, we left, nearly speechless due to being so full of the many thoughts engendered by what we had just seen. 

Dayna Wenzel, whose solo exhibition is in the upstairs gallery, met us and a few others and gave us a tour of her show, Nature Unraveled. Dayna creates exquisite sculptural pieces which are composed of natural materials which are often juxtaposed with found objects which others might define as rusty old debris! The results are simply beautiful, as you can see in the piece above. 

Having Dayna lead us through her exhibit was quite a treat. No matter how much I may be drawn to a work of art, there is always a heightened level of appreciation that happens in talking with the artist. We learned a lot about Dayna’s process, how she spends lots of time outdoors, experiencing nature with her dog at her side, and scavenging things that go others never even "see" until they lay eyes upon her constructions. 

Many of her dried flower heads and pods come from her own garden, which makes me want to see it because I’ll bet it is gorgeous. She also has quite a collection of wasp nests. Now, I would love to get my hands a one of those gorgeous, papery globes but I never see them. Dayna, on the other hand, will tell you they are to be found  everywhere! (Note to self: Less couch, more woods.)

After our really special visit with Dayna, we headed downstairs to wander through the current show, By a Thread: The Fine Art of Fiber. The collection of works, curated by Nancy Moore, is a wonderful offering of fiber art from some of Connecticut’s most exciting fiber artists at work today. 

Here are but a very few pieces I enjoyed seeing on yesterday’s visit. 

FRANCINE EVEN :: SMALL WEAVINGS :: LEFT :: PETITE CHOSE #11 :: WOOL, RAW SILK, LINEN, WAXED LINEN. RIGHT :: HARMONY :: HAND-DYED EUROFLAX LINEN.

I love Francine’s display of small weavings. I forgot to count, but there must have been about twenty of them, each one beautifully displayed in simple 8 1/4" x 10 1/2" shadowbox frames. If I were buying, I’d want to buy one (or more) of these. I would have a very hard time choosing which one to buy. 

JENNIFER COYNE QUDEEN :: THE RED BOAT :: TEABAGS, DIGITAL PRINT OF PHOTO TAKEN BY THE ARTIST, THREAD

Jennifer’s massive wall hanging - 71" x 54" - is a definite show-stopper. Visitors yesterday couldn't help but gather in front of it and ooh and ah. Lucky for us, Jennifer was there to tell us all about this tantalizing piece made from tea bags. 

LIZ ALPERT FAY :: POCKET FULL OF CHANGE :: HAND-DYED RECYCED WOOL, PEARL COTTON, BUTTONS

Of course I had to stop and gasp at Liz’s 54" x 60" quilted wall hanging. That’s a lot of pennies!

FRANCINE EVEN :: ODE TO KLEE :: HAND-DYED WOOL STRIPS

Another piece by Francine, this one larger (23" x 23"), quite colorful, and hooked rather than woven. She is a woman of many talents. 

SHEILA HICKS :: COLZA REEVE :: COTTON, SILK, LINEN

What a gem this little piece is, by Sheila Hicks. I think it’s why we have the phrase, "Oh, my God!" I just love it. I forgot to measure it, but it’s small - about 8" x 12" or thereabouts. 

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DAYNA WENZEL :: IT STARTS WITH A SEED :: DRIED RUSSIAN SAGE STEMS, RECYCLED TEXTILES, THREAD (PHOTO COURTESY THE ARTIST)

I’ll end with a "start" from Dayna’s upstairs show. Isn’t it just lovely?

If you are anywhere near Ridgefield, CT, I hope you’ll make a trip to see these two very inspiring shows of fiber art, each of which will remain on display through June 19. 

NOTE: I apologize for the less than stellar quality of my photos. I meant to bring my camera but ended up having to use my iPhone. 

Big Hands ... Tiny Art

Today is the day, finally! Doug’s first-ever show of his teeny-tiny cut paper art is on display at the Mark Twain Library in Redding and today is the opening reception.

I’m just going to share a few photos here, along with excerpts from the lovely news article, written by Maggie McIntire.

Standing at 6’4, Doug Crites-Moore nearly fills the doorway when he enters a room, yet his passion is sitting at his dining room table for hours on end, creating whimsical paper sculptures that stand about an inch tall.

Nearly 40 of Crites-Moore’s intricate works are now on display at the Mark Twain Library. Crites-Moore, a longtime Redding resident, will give a gallery talk and share the process and inspiration behind his work on Saturday, May 14 at 3 p.m.

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TINY WOVEN PAPER SHOE :: ONE INCH LONG BY HALF INCH WIDE

For as long as he can remember, Crites-Moore said he had a fascination with “tiny things.” He made his first paper sculpture, a stereo console cabinet, when he just 10 years old, growing up in Oregon.

“It’s hard to explain. I’ve just always had an interest in making really tiny things. It’s in my DNA,” said Crites-Moore, a retired Senior Marketing Manager at IBM. “For me, it’s Zen – total peace. When I’m making these things, it’s the closest thing to being in my heart.”

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CHRISTMAS TREE WITH TRAIN ON TRACK AROUND THE BASE :: THREE INCHES TALL

The tools he uses include water color paper, dental implements, tiny scissors, X-Acto knives, blades, little clamps and tacky glue. He often creates the sculptures to give away as gifts, or to celebrate holidays. Crites-Moore said some creations take just a couple hours, and others have to be assembled in stages over the course of several days. One of his favorite works is a gift he made for his daughter, Adeline, a Noah’s Ark that stands just an inch and half tall – with miniature Noah and his wife standing on deck, tiny birds flying overhead and four pairs of animals marching aboard.

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ADELINE’S ARK :: ABOUT TWO INCHES TALL AT ITS TALLEST POINT

Crites-Moore said his wife Morna, has encouraged him to follow his passion for turning plain white paper into works of art.

“She has always seen that I’ve had this thing, this passion… she encourages me all the time, ’’ Crites-Moore said.

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THE MAN HIMSELF :: 6’4" TALL

In case you’re wondering, I am 5’ 1" tall. I used to be 5’ 4" tall - and I thought that was short. It’s a good thing Doug likes tiny things, although I’m only tiny in the vertical. 

Finding the time, Clearing the Space

I struggle with finding the time, and the space, to make the things that are in my head and aching to get out. I know it's because I am a procrastinator and so there are all kinds of other things that pile up, undone but needing to be done; bills to pay, incredible clutter to clear out, emails to answer, telephone calls to return, doctor appointments to make, cupboards to clean, laundry to do, and on and on and on. All of these things somehow manage to get placed ahead of the making. Can't abandon myself to the studio until I've gotten other things done. And, trust me, some of the other things have gotten completely out of hand and actually do really need to be tackled. Even if I could go be in the studio, there is so much mess to clean up and clear out before I can have the space to make anything. If you only knew. 

Not looking for sympathy. Not looking for a pep talk. However, actual, helpful advice would be welcome!

TAKING OVER THE DINING ROOM TO SORT WOOL.